Thank You!!!

We've created a Wedding Site (http://www.mywedding.com/banhorngserene) with key information about our big day in September!

UPDATE: Selected wedding and honeymoon photos are all up on Facebook!

Friday, 13 July 2007

First FOTR meeting! - Minutes

After some discussion, here are the minutes of the last meeting

A) Date & Time
Actual: 18 Aug
Rehearsal: 11 Aug

Arrival at location: 855pm
Springing the trap (balloons): 9pm
The proposal (fireworks, flowers): 905pm

will need for most of us to be available for 2 Saturday evenings..

B) Venue
Merlion Walk, Sentosa
(see earlier post)

C) Logistics
1) fireworks (905pm).. free
2) flowers (TTT).. $50
3) ballons (SFD) .. $30-$45
4) R/C cars (BH) .. $50
5) Room/dinner (BH).. $300/$100
6) video cam (TTT) ... free
7) *Real* car/transportation (LFD)... free
8) Sparklers, Spray ribbons, confetti, candles etc (HQ)... $10

Responsible parties for items in (C) are to please report status by next weekend 21 July by posting on blog.

D) The Hoodwink
Aim: To get her onto Sentosa without her suspecting a thing

Have started a poll to get your opinions

Choice 1: Room at the Amara Sanctuary
Pros: A platform for wet weather program (backup)
Disguised as a lucky draw prize recommended by SFD, will be less conspicuous
Can be really romantic if special arrangements can be made with hotel
Cons: Expensive

Choice 2: Dinner at one of the beach bars/hotels
Pros: Cheaper
Can get the timing just right
Disguised as a lucky draw prize recommended by SFD, will be less conspicuous
Cons: No wet weather program alternative
Cliche as a pre-proposal activity

Choice 3: Day trip to Sentosa stretching into the night
Pros: Cheapest
Cons: Most conspicuous as ACN pract meet is just the day before!

Wednesday, 11 July 2007

First FOTR meeting!

(UPDATE)
As some of us are coming down with a very bad case of the sniffles and given the late timing, this will be changed to a web conference conducted over MSN/Skype.

Time: 1045pm
Venue: MSN

Do attend if you are available ;)
(UPDATE)


For those who can make it, I propose to hold the following meeting to start the ball rolling before I am away in KL for the next two weeks...

Date: 12 July 2007
Time: 930pm
Venue: Coffee Club outside California Fitness Orchard

Agenda:
- Finalise the date of execution
- Prepare sourcing for supplies eg: R/C cars, fireworks etc
- Assign responsibilities
- Gather feedback
- Any Other Matters

Update: The bling bling is supposed to be ready and I can collect it anytime starting tomorrow! Hope it'll look great. It's the single most expensive item this giam siap person has ever spent on! (not even on his PC's leh!)

Confirmed attendees: SFD, TTT.

Saturday, 7 July 2007

Suggestions from Down Under

I've been reading the Grand Plan - Draft 1 and I have to admit, grand is putting things mildly. It's big. It's grand. It's romantic. It's got surprises. I like it. It's fantastic!!!

I'm pretty sure much discussion has been going on so I figure I'll contribute a few suggestions.

1. Method of getting the message accross.
I'm not sure if this is possible but I think it would be good if we could get the fireworks people to do something as part of the occassion. Maybe have them project a specific image. Maybe announce something special, like "The Hulk" has won a special prize for the day and to please come down to the front, follow by whatever you all think appropriate. If you can get enough people, make t-shirts spelling the whole thing out. Which leads me on to 2.

2. Hoodwink.
Assuming we can get Sentosa onboard, all that is required would be to organised to day trip or something to Sentosa. Easy enough. Less planning required and less chance of the whole thing being exposed by accident.

I lost my train of thought so this would have to be continued later.....

Thursday, 5 July 2007

The Grand Plan - Draft 1

Like a finger-licking recipe, or well-paced novel, a brilliant and spectacular plan will require several drafts and revisions. A well-executed plan will also require some amount of preparation and rehearsals. Here's an intial draft of my proposed plan to the FOTR, so please give me your comments and recommendations..

Part 1: Preparations and props
a) Balloons. We need to pick up suitable balloons that is helium filled. I'm think either a pair ie. barney + hulk or something meaningful (how about a very subtle "Will you marry me?"). As far as I know, the shop at Centrepoint sells these balloons (please let me know if you can find somewhere nicer and/or cheaper) and we can order them in advance and I'll need your help to collect them when it's ready.

b) Flowers. Need a nice bouquet picked out for the occasion. Thinking of lilies (her favourite) or the tried and tested roses

c) Remote control car. As proposed by SFD, a remote control car could zip out of nowhere to deliver a package. I'm thinking of tying the floating balloon to it. Could be quite a sight if timed right. I don't have one at the moment. Let me know if you guys have any (a pair if 2 balloons are used) or I might have budget to buy 2 decent but cheap ones.

d) Video + Still camera. TTT, can I count on you for these items? I might be able to borrow a Nikon D40 digital SLR for the job (maybe plus the still camera man too) but I don't really know anyone close enough to do the filming

e) Mood-setters. Divided into 2 subcategories
- Prep room: (see Part 2) items for creating a romantic mood in the hotel room eg. petals strewn on the bed, wine, candle lit room upon entry etc. (done this before so must make it look like it's not done by me :P ). A simple gift to throw her off the scent..some trinkets (any suggestions?)
- Prep proposal: noisemakers, sparklers, bubble gun (I know you have them TTT!), confetti to be used at the actual event to build up atmosphere.

f) Banner. Needed? I think balloons, flowers + fireworks should do a trick. Low priority item

Part 2: The Hoodwink
+









As revealed earlier, the location is at Sentosa where there is a scheduled fireworks display twice every night around 805 to 810pm and 905 to 910pm (let's try for the second one so it won't be too rushed).

Here's the exact location (codenamed - Site X):



It will be along the stretch of the Merlion Walk with small water fountains flanked by gardens on both sides. At the end of the walk near the beach, an alarm clock will chime on the hour (I think) which can act as a signal of sorts. It will also mean it is close to the launch of the fireworks.

The FOTR can actually hide in the Herb and Spice Garden which overseas the Walk and offers excellent cover and concealment while allowing an elevated vantage point for filming and observation.

(There is a significance in the choice of location which will be revealed in later blog entries. I need to see whether the fireworks is visible and audible from this location.)

The "hoodwink" is to be able to bring her to this location.

The proposed plan is to let her know that I have won a one night stay at the Amara Sanctuary. In the evening after dinner at one of the beach bars, I will lead her to this location at around 845pm. If Amara Sanctuary is not available, there is still the Sentosa Beach Resort (budget) or Rasa Sentosa.

Any other suggestions how I can somehow lead her comfortably to this location? (or cheaper suggestion..as the above will set me back by ~$300-$340 estimated).

Part 3: The Date
The custom bling bling is still being done at the moment and the estimated time that it will come back to me is by next weekend 14th July.

I need to select a date that falls between then and before the lunar 7th month (to avoid tsk-tsks from parents on both sides), and hopefully when there is a full moon.


Part 4: The Execution
Setting the Mood
Summary: The room is nicely decorated, candle lit when we first enter, with rose petals strewn on the bed and in the bath. A single stalk of rose/lily is on the bed along with the trinket (decoy gift).
Prepartion: I will get the room beforehand and will get all the setup done, hopefully with help from the hotel staff.

The Proposal
Summary: After dinner at one of the beach bars, we will take a nice stroll along beach and somehow end up at Site X. When the clock chimes, remote control cars bearing the balloons will approach us. I will reach out from behind one of the bushes and whip out a flower bouquet. Dishing out the bling bling, I make my move as the night sky fills up with vibrant sprays of fireworks.
Preparation: FOTR to pick up the balloons from the shop and bring the bouquet and other props (RC cars, sparklers etc).
While we are having dinner, I will excuse myself to go to the loo. I will call the FOTR coordinator and FOTR members will lie in ambush at the Spice garden. As we approach the Merlion Walk at the stipulated timing, FOTR should see us approaching. At the chime of the clock or 9pm, everything is set in motion!
1) RC cars move down the slope bearing the balloons.
2) I will reach out behind the bushes where FOTR lies in wait and grab the bouquet.
3) Amidst the fireworks, I will do the job.
4) She agrees (or otherwise), FOTR rushes out from the bushes with great fanfare.

The whole event - preparations, any feelings, thoughts, grumbles etc are recorded on video.

Well team, that's all for now. Any recommendations/suggestions for improvement?
I'll need to set a date and then I'll need to sacrifice FOTR's two Saturday weekend evenings. One for the rehearsal, and one for actual event. I hope this is not too much to ask. Mosquito repellent will be provided :P